Indefinite leave to remain(ILR): What are the key differences between Labour’s and Reform UK’s plans? Nigel Farage and Sir Keir Starmer have sparred over the immigration policy of respective parties. What are the main distinctions, then?
Remarking that Reform UK’s indefinite permission to remain (ILR) policy is “racist” and “immoral” caused a stir on Sunday.
The prime minister “has insulted millions of people,” according to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who also said that Labour feels that anyone who supports border controls is “racist.” Farage and his top lieutenants have responded angrily.
According to data from the last two periods on record, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024, showed the highest level of net migration since current record keeping began in the 1940s, making it the most recent front in the ongoing dispute over which party has the most credible plans to reduce legal migration.
Latest from the Labour Conference: Ministers criticise Reform UK
As a considerable number of people are anticipated to become eligible for the status in January 2026, concerns regarding ILR—which grants people the ability to dwell, work, study, and even claim benefits in the UK—have been growing.
ILR is available to those who have lived and worked in the UK for five years; the first members of the so-called “Boriswave”—those who entered under regulations put in place during the Johnson premiership—will do so in January of next year.
What are the differences between the policy plans of Reform UK and Labour, both of whom have committed to changing the regulations around ILR?
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR): What is it?
Indefinite leave to remain is currently cited by the government as a crucial component of a foreign national’s ability to settle in the UK. Another name for it is “settlement” or “settled status.” For as long as they like, those with the status are allowed to live, work, and study in the UK. They can also apply for benefits if they qualify. It can be used to apply for British citizenship once it has been achieved.
What plans does Labour have?
The home secretary is outlining new requirements that applicants for ILR must fulfil to be eligible.
These consist of:
• Working;
• Contributing to national insurance;
• Not making a benefit claim;
• achieving a “high standard” in English learning;
• Having a criminal record that is “spotless”;
• Contributing to the neighbourhood in some way, like volunteering, for instance.
Most of those requirements, such as the amount of national insurance that immigrants must have paid, the definition of a “high standard” of English, and the criteria for measuring community service, have not yet been thoroughly explained.
Although it is unclear when this would take effect, the government is currently considering on whether to extend the five-year limit before ILR claims can be lodged to ten years.
What plans does Reform UK have?
The party of Nigel Farage has promised to do away with ILR completely and make earning British citizenship the exclusive path to permanent residency in the country.
Current ILR holders would no longer be eligible for that status and would be subject to the same new regulations as newly arrived foreign nationals in the UK.
Every five years, they would need to reapply for a visa to work and stay in Britain. Reform UK has promised to establish additional requirements to be eligible for one, such as a significantly higher salary barrier and a greater level of English proficiency, though specifics have not yet been revealed.
Benefits, which would only be accessible to British citizens, would not be available to those on the five-year work visa, and they would be compelled to leave the UK if they were no longer in compliance with the terms of their visa. EU nationals with established status and immigrants from Hong Kong and Ukraine would be exempt.
In addition, Reform UK would require applicants to renounce their previous citizenships and increase the average wait time for UK citizenship from six to seven years.
Although there is substantial disagreement about the precise amount, Reform UK has stated that these initiatives will save the British taxpayer £234 billion. Additionally, Reform UK has not addressed what would happen to seniors, who currently have the right to stay in the UK even though they may be too old to be expected to work.